LOVE struck fans greeted former boy band star Simon Webbe with hugs and tears of joy as he arrived back home in Birmingham to sign copies of his latest single.

LOVE struck fans greeted former boy band star Simon Webbe with hugs and tears of joy as he arrived back home in Birmingham to sign copies of his latest single.

The heart throb's gentle charm had fans swooning in HMV's High Street store where hundreds queued up for nearly two hours to meet him.

He posed for photos and signed copies of his new single Coming Around Again, which will be on his second solo album called Grace.

The former Blue singer said: "It's always good to be home. This is like a trip down memory lane for me."

Simon, who will be one of the celebrities to switch on Birmingham's Christmas lights on November 11, added: "It's a real honour to be asked to the switch on. I feel I'm truly famous now!"

For 13-year-old Holly Taylor, meeting her hero was all a bit much and she burst into tears as he gave her a hug.

Holly, a pupil at Holte School, in Lozells, was with her older sisters Lorraine, 21, and 16-year-old Shireen.

"He was just so gentle and kind," said Holly. "He's a really lovely person."

Mother of two Maggie Bermann, 43, had travelled from Nottingham to see Simon to say hello. She follows him round the country despite being on crutches a year after being hurt in the July 7 London bombings.

She said: "I was caught in the crush to escape the King's Cross bomb and ended up with two torn ligaments and three slipped discs. I was actually on my way to see Simon perform at Wembley.

"Now we follow him wherever he goes and we'll be going to Manchester next to see him there."